This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
My writing room is where I do all the plotting, the planning and the editing at the end of the process.
I write the guts of my novels wherever the mood takes me. I might work on the sofa in another room, in bed, in a café or even in a library, but this room is for structure.
I have an old round table as a desk, and a fantastic Aeron chair. I can’t do this chair justice by stating that it’s comfortable, instead, imagine an angel cradling you as you work, then you will have an idea of what sitting in this chair feels like.
I have an old washstand next to my desk that stores all of my stationary and mess.Piles of books lie around as I am running out of room on the bookshelves.
On the rug is one of my dogs, Charlotte. She’s a rescue dog who came to us from a very violent home. She took two years to learn to trust a man, now she loves everyone but she loves me the most. Wherever I am, she is. She is my own little cheerleader when I write, always encouraging me to give her treats.
Some mornings I get up around 5.00am to work and it is very cold, so the fire is a blessing.
I work on a Macbook, and when I’m writing a book I back up everyday at this desk. I learned the lesson the hard way when I once lost an entire manuscript after my computer had a breakdown.
The mantelpiece is for special things. Photos, little trinkets, and my grandfather’s clock complete with a little toy mouse on top. It’s ever changing, as I like to shift things in the space. It keeps me interested and stimulated.
The little maidenhair fern is one I just propagated. It’s good to have something living to look at when you’re stuck.
I face a white wall because I’m easily distracted. I’m even thinking of moving the print above my wall. It’s too lovely and easy to lose myself in. It is called ‘An evening at home,’ by John Poynter.
I should put up an image of a woman editing a book and then I will be less distracted and more disciplined.
Or maybe a mirror? No, then I will be really distracted, mentally listing my flaws and then editing them instead of a book.
It’s a lovely room to work in, and Charlotte agrees wholeheartedly, now can she have a treat?
Picture Perfect by Kate Forster is out now.